Also, if anyone fancies being an amateur historian themselves and happens to live near London, and has some spare time on their hands.... there's a particular archive at Kew that I desperately want to rummage through. But I live overseas so not easy to pop along myself. I cannot promise much in return except the feel-good factor of helping unearth one of the forgotten episodes of Navy/RM history. Would need someone who is savvy on naval topics but above all keen.

There is the odd clearance diver on here, but you must be patient, as they give the majority of their time to mirrors. I'm confident your queries will be answered one way or the other in due course. Good luck.